King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (2024)

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This king cake poke cake is made with vanilla pudding and yellow cake mix, then finished off with a glaze and decorated for celebration. It’s flavorful, rich, and colorful. The perfect cake for Mardi Gras season!

King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (1)

Mardi Gras Cake

This King Cake poke cake is a twist on the classic King Cake. Start with a yellow cake mix for ease, then fill it with vanilla pudding. It’s the best Mardi Gras cake, and easy too!

Decorating is what makes it so festive, so don’t skip the gold, green, and purple sugars!

Why You’ll Love this Easy King Cake Recipe:

  • Easy Cake: This king cake recipe uses simple ingredients, making it super simple and effortless to put together!
  • Mardi Gras Colors: Each slice of cake has tons of color with green, gold and purple!
King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (2)

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How to Make King Cake Poke Cake

Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Preheat the oven and prepare the pan as instructed in the detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post.
  2. Mix and bake the cake mix per box instructions. Allow it to cool.
  3. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke small holes in the cake.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients with the pudding mix. Then pour over the cake. Cover the cake and chill for a half hour.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and milk until smooth to make the glaze.
  6. Pour the glaze over the cake and sprinkle the decorating sugars on top of the cake.
  7. Serve and enjoy your king cake!
King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (4)

What is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras (aka: Fat Tuesday) is a festive day celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, which marks the close of the pre-Lenten season. The name comes from the French custom of using up all of the fats in the house before Lent in preparation for fasting.

What is king cake?

King cake is a traditional cake also called the three kings cake. It is served during mardi gras with a cinnamon flavor, and decorated with yellow, green, and purple sugar. The name comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to baby Jesus. Yellow/gold stands for power, green stands for faith, and purple stands for justice!

Why do they bake a baby into king cake?

A baby figure is traditionally baked into king cake as a surprise. Whoever gets the piece with the baby is said to be blessed with luck and prosperity, and they get to be king or queen for the day.

What is a poke cake?

A poke cake is an invention of the 1970s that features a regular cake with dozens of holes poked in the top to allow the topping (be it pudding, pastry cream, Jell-O, etc.) to sink into the cake, creating pockets of flavor.

How do I make holes in a poke cake?

Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a skewer to poke large, deep holes about ¾ of the way through the cake. Do not poke the holes all the way through or the filling will seep out when the cake is cut.

Does king cake poke cake need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Pudding is a perishable product that needs to be refrigerated. King cake poke cake can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.

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Creative Decoration Ideas

You can opt to add edible mardi gras colored glitter along with the sprinkles to sprinkle on top of your mardi gras cake. Or if you have a piping bag and frosting, you can give this kings cake a royal border to outline the cake’s edges.

Make Ahead Instructions

King cake poke cake is a great make-ahead dessert, as it needs time for the pudding to set in the refrigerator. Make the cake as directed and leave it in the refrigerator overnight the day before you plan to serve it! To avoid the colors running, wait to decorate with colored sugar until ready to serve.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover king cake poke cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Enjoy cold or at room temperature.

Freezing Instructions

Freeze king cake poke cake tightly wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.

Substitutions

  • You can use white or chocolate cake mix instead, if you prefer!
  • You can swap the pudding mix for a different flavor, such as chocolate, cheesecake, or pistachio.
  • If you can’t find decorating sugar, you can use colored sprinkles instead.

Tips for the Best King Cake Poke Cake

  • The ingredients listed for the cake are specific to Duncan Hines brand; if using a different brand, use the ingredients and quantities specified on the box.
  • It’s a king cake tradition to bake a plastic baby figurine into the cake; feel free to do this if you like!
  • Do not poke the holes all the way through or the filling will seep out when the cake is cut.
King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (6)

I hope you enjoy this super easy mardi gras king cake! Poke cakes are always a crowd favorite!

More Holiday Cake Recipes!

  • Mardi Gras Cupcakes
  • Grinch Cupcakes
  • King Cake Poke Cake
  • Eggnog Poke Cake
  • Cinco de Mayo Piñata Cupcakes
  • Letter to Santa Cake

If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!

King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (7)

5 from 1 vote

King Cake Poke Cake Recipe

Celebrate Mardi Gras with this easy poke cake! Start with a box of yellow cake mix, and decorate for a colorful dessert.

Prep: 20 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 slices

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Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix 432 grams (1 box – Duncan Hines brand)
  • 1 cup water 227 grams
  • 3 large eggs 150 grams, room temperature
  • cup vegetable oil 67 grams

For the Pudding

  • 3.4 ounces vanilla pudding mix 96 grams (1 box)
  • cups milk 568 grams
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 9 grams

For the Glaze

  • 4 cups powdered sugar 452 grams
  • ½ cup milk 114 grams
  • Decorating sugar green, gold, and purple, for topping

Equipment

  • Kitchen Scale (optional)

  • 9×13 Baking Pan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with a nonstick spray.

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (9)

  • Mix and bake the cake mix according to the directions on the box and allow it to cool.

    15.25 ounces yellow cake mix, 1 cup water, 3 large eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (10)

  • Using the top of a wooden spoon, poke holes into the cake, so the whole cake is covered in holes.

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (11)

  • Combine the pudding mix, milk, and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl just until it’s combined. Pour the pudding all over the cake.

    3.4 ounces vanilla pudding mix, 2½ cups milk, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (12)

  • Cover the cake and place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Hide a plastic baby in the cooled cake, if desired.

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (13)

  • Whisk together the sugar and half of the milk in a large mixing bowl until it’s smooth; if it’s too thick, you can add in a little bit of the milk at a time. You want it to be thin enough to pour the glaze but not too thin that it just runs right off the cake.

    4 cups powdered sugar, ½ cup milk

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (14)

  • Pour the glaze over the cake in an even layer.

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (15)

  • Sprinkle the decorating sugars over the top of the glaze.

    Decorating sugar

    King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (16)

Notes

  • You can use white or chocolate cake mix instead, if you prefer!
  • You can swap the pudding mix for a different flavor, such as chocolate, cheesecake, or pistachio.
  • If you can’t find decorating sugar, you can use colored sprinkles instead.
  • The ingredients listed for the cake are specific to Duncan Hines brand; if using a different brand, use the ingredients and quantities specified on the box.
  • It’s a king cake tradition to bake a plastic baby figurine into the cake; feel free to do this if you like!
  • Do not poke the holes all the way through or the filling will seep out when the cake is cut.

Storage:Store king cake poke cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

King Cake Poke Cake Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 362Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 54mg18%

Sodium 225mg10%

Potassium 122mg3%

Carbohydrates 66g22%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 56g62%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 168IU3%

Vitamin C 0.02mg0%

Calcium 128mg13%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin – Easy Dessert Recipes

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King Cake Poke Cake Recipe - Easy Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is my poke cake soggy? ›

Make sure the holes aren't too close together or too far apart—if they're too close together, your cake could be too moist; if they're too far apart, there may not be enough filling throughout the cake.

What does it mean if you find the baby in a king cake? ›

When a king cake is served at a Mardi Gras celebration, everyone wants to know who was served the slice with the king cake baby—but what does it mean if you find one? Tradition dictates that finding the baby in your cake symbolizes luck and prosperity. As such, the finder becomes the “king” or “queen” of the evening.

What is the most popular king cake in New Orleans? ›

Haydel's Bakery

Today, Haydel's is among the most popular choices for a classic king cake, with recipes deeply rooted in New Orleans tradition. The cake is made of Danish dough that's hand-braided with cinnamon and sugar and topped with fondant icing along with purple, green, and gold sugar. (Ships nationwide.)

Why do you leave the knife in the king cake box? ›

after every time it was used, the amount of water usage would put the habitat. of these endangered pelicans at risk. So by keeping the knife in the box, you're not only keeping your king cake fresh. and cutting back on your portion size, but you're also saving the lives of these pelicans.

How do you keep a cake super moist? ›

Seven Bakery Secrets to Incredibly Moist Cakes Every Time
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

What day do you eat king cake in 2024? ›

Something like king cake is available year round, but those faithful to New Orleans tradition know it only has its cultural significance during Carnival season. That season will fly by this year, between the kick off on Jan. 6 and Fat Tuesday bringing down the curtain on Feb. 13.

What do the colors of king cakes mean? ›

Most king cakes are traditionally decorated in royal colors of purple, which signifies “justice,” green for “growth,” and gold meaning “prosperity and wealth.” These colors can be seen as chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the three wise men and their gifts during the visit of the Christ Child on Epiphany.

Is king cake a Catholic tradition? ›

The history of the king cake came from European and Roman Catholic roots, which made its way into the New Orleans area in the 1870s. In contrast to the French king cakes, which are a flaky puff pastry, the New Orleans style is similar to the Spanish tradition, which is oval-shaped and topped with icing.

What is a millionaire king cake? ›

▪ The Millionaire king cake at the Palace Casino bakery has to be one of the most decadent ever, swirled chocolate and caramel, smothered in pecans and filled with a choice of cream cheese or Bavarian cream. It's one of 12 flavors in two sizes that can be found at Palace Cafe and Bakery.

What is a voodoo king cake? ›

Voodoo King Cake

Filled with Bavarian cream and topped with chocolate ganache, coconut, and pecans.

What is a Carnival king cake? ›

A cake fit for a king!

These sweet treats are made from dough that has been braided into a ring to look like a king's crown. After the cake is baked, it's topped with frosting, sugar or sprinkles in a mix of purple, green and gold — the traditional colours of Mardi Gras.

What happens if you get the plastic baby in king cake? ›

Remember, finding the baby inside the king cake not only makes you a “king,” but it also comes with some responsibilities. If you are so fortunate to find the baby in your slice of cake, you will be responsible for hosting the next Mardi Gras celebration and providing the next king cake!

What does each color of the sprinkles represent on a king cake? ›

Mardi Gras king cake is topped with glaze and sprinkles, which are usually gold, green, and purple. The colors of the icing (and the royal colors of Mardi Gras) have a deeper meaning. Gold represents power, green is associated with faith, and purple illustrates justice.

What do you hide in king cake? ›

The common denominator between all of these cakes is that they all have a small trinket or figurine — such as a bean, a coin, a nut, or a tiny baby figurine — hidden inside. Whoever finds the trinket in their slice of cake gets to be “king” for a day and is also said to have good luck.

What to do if your cake has a soggy bottom? ›

Place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper on the bottom of the cake and put it back in the pan. Bake the cake again in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes, or until the bottom of the cake is no longer soggy. Let the cake cool completely in the pan before removing it and serving.

How do you dry a soggy fruit cake? ›

If they have not absorbed the alcohol from a previous feeding then you could leave them unwrapped for a couple of days in a cool place (cover loosely with a clean tea towel) and some of the excess alcohol should evaporate. Once they feel drier then you can re-wrap them and then maybe only feed them very sparingly.

Why is my cake jelly like? ›

Apart from the Gluten, insufficient creaming of sugar and eggs will also make a tight texture because there isn't enough air trapped in the mix to give it a lift. Many of the inexperienced bakers who try to bake mug cakes usually end up baking it rubbery.

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